Horse Racing: Prado in good standing

After spat ends, trainer Matz picks jockey for Derby

Updated 10:00 pm, Tuesday, May 2, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Trainer Michael Matz was so mad at Edgar Prado and his agent that he refused to use the jockey for almost a year.

They have patched up their differences, and Prado will ride undefeated Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

The trouble came in the days leading to the 2004 Arlington Million. Matz said he had a firm commitment from Bob Frieze, Prado's agent, to ride Kickin Kris. Matz found out five days before the race he needed a new rider. He had been "spun," the racetrack expression for an agent failing to honor a booking.

"I was very upset about it," Matz said. "Personally, I like Edgar very much and I have no problem with Bob, either. But you don't do that in a million-dollar race."

Frieze said he was backed into a corner. Prado initially was to ride Magistretti, but Frieze switched to Kickin Kris when told Magistretti would skip the race. When it turned out Magistretti was running, Frieze had conflicting commitments. He chose Magistretti.

"I was stuck," Frieze said. "I called Michael and he got a little upset. I got him a rider and he won the race. But it carried over."

Kickin Kris was awarded the victory on a disqualification with Kent Desormeaux aboard. Magistretti was elevated to second from third when Powerscourt was disqualified from first and placed fourth.

The chill in the relationship thawed last year. Prado has been aboard for the colt's past three starts, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby, extending his winning streak to five.

"It's over; it's done," Matz said. "Racing is a small world and Edgar is one of the top riders. I have no hard feelings about Bob, and I hope he feels the same about me. I never had any hard feelings for Edgar."

Prado is winless in five Derby mounts. His best finish was third on Peace Rules in 2003.

LOSING HOPE: Trainer Todd Pletcher knows the chances of Sunriver making the Derby are slipping away.

An overflow field is expected for the race and entries will be limited to the top 20 based on graded-stakes earnings. Sunriver is 21st. So far, no horse above him has withdrawn because of illness or injury.

"It isn't looking good for him," Pletcher said. "I'd love to get him in, but the way I see it right now is that he's not going to make it."

Flashy Bull is 20th on the list with $109,000; Sunriver has $100,000.

The field will be set at the post-position draw today.

Without Sunriver, Pletcher still has two horses in the race: Bluegrass Cat and Keyed Entry.

OAKS FAVORITE: Balance is the 2-1 favorite from post four in a field of 14 in the Derby's companion event, the $685,900 Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Friday at Churchill Downs.

Balance is widely considered the leader in the division following a pair of Grade 1 victories this year at Santa Anita in the Las Virgenes Stakes and the Santa Anita Oaks. Most recently, Balance ran third in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

The 1-2 finishers in the Ashland, Bushfire and Wait a While, were listed as the co-second choices at 5-1.

BREEDERS' CUP BOOST: Total purses for the Breeders' Cup World Championships have been increased to $20 million -- an increase of $6 million from last year. The eight races will be held Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

The signature Classic got a $1 million boost to $5 million, putting it behind only the $6 million Dubai World Cup.